Teddy Pendergrass dead at 59: the legendary prince of R&B

One of the most popular R&B singers of our time, Teddy Pendergrass is dead at 59 from colon cancer. EOnline explains that, Teddy Pendergrass – who’s voice has been favorably compared to that of the late Barry White and called “Teddy Bear” – had what his son Teddy, Jr. described as a rough recovery from surgery for colon cancer eight months ago. The music legend and signpost of the Zeitgeist died Wednesday at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Philadelphia, his home town.

Teddy Pendergrass

Teddy Pendergrass got his start with the Philadelphia group Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes in 1970 when he was recruited as a drummer, then promoted to lead singer. That started a long string of 70s hits, from If You Don’t Know Me By Now to The Love I Lost and Bad Luck.

Teddy became known for swooning women at his “For Women Only” concerts, and for selling over 10 million records during the amazing 80s. One of the post popular was made after he left Harold Melvin, thus taking away “the Blue note” which earned their albums platnum status; it’s called Love T.K.O.

Here’s Teddy singing it on Soul Train in 1980:

But it all nearly came to a fatal end in 1982. On March 18, 1982, in Philadelphia, Teddy Pendergrass’ Silver Spirit Rolls- Royce reportedly ran into a guardrail and into a bank of trees, leaving the singer partially paralyzed.

He was wheelchair-bound and angry, but fought back with the help of his wife Karen and his family. He went on to make other songs, and was nominated for a Grammy for Voodoo in 1993.

Overall, Teddy Pendergrass produced 33 singles and received five Grammy nominations. He will forever been remembered and hailed as one of the pioneer success stories in black music, defining the music and culture of the 70s and 80s. Before his death Teddy Pendergrass had already achieved living legend status, and will forever hold that place in our lives. Teddy Pendergrass is the legendary prince of R&B.